Hmmm. I think that if you want to pick up where season 3 of the TV series is leaving off, you may just want to read all of Book 3. Picking up in the middle of the book would probably make for an odd reading experience.

I actually started readying the books following season 1 of the show, and the first book I read was A Clash of Kings. After that, I read the rest of the series in order. Since finishing book 5, I've actually gone back to read the first book. There are some serious differences between the books and the series, but the overall direction seems to line up.

After last week's shocker, last night took a breather and set up the second half of aSoS for next season. I didn't get Lady Stoneheart like I thought we would, but at least they had the balls to show GreyRobb. Everyone now knows who Theon's torturer is (but the clues have been there since last season), but they only scratched the surface on what a sick bastard he is.

And any scene with Tywin and Tyrion is gold.

Now starts the casting rumors for new characters in season 4, mainly the Martells, specifically the Red Viper. Going to be a long wait until March.

It was sort of an unfocused finale after everything that happened the week before. The Daenerys scene at the end seemed really tacked-on... seemingly to add a "wow" moment to wrap up the season. I remembered reading something about how novel readers might be upset by a big departure in the finale from the books, which had me on-edge thinking "maybe there's an assassin among the slaves and Daenerys gets stabbed in a cliff-hanger!" Which would have been more interesting than the crowd-surfing...

I did like when Arya got all stabby. Sucks that Theon joins Varys and the Unsullied... I don't recall that being explicitly spelled out in the books. Seemed like a lot was packed in for one episode.

Without a doubt, my favorite scene from the finale was Tywin dressing down Joffrey. Sending the King to bed without supper, and having Pycelle give him a sleeping potion? Tywin has really stepped up to handle his monster of a grandson! But then to follow that up with Tyrion & Tywin's exchange? That was fantastic.

The intersection of Sam & Bran's journeys was great. It was great just to see a little of one of the other castles on The Wall, first and foremost. Even if it was a ruin. And the stories of treachery at the Nightfort added to the sense of lore. I will admit: I was a little disappointed in one respect with these scenes, and the fact that one character wasn't included.

Jon Snow's return to The Wall was something I was waiting to see. And Ygritte didn't disappoint in lighting him up before he got there. I was missing that in last week's episode. Maester Aemon's message to Stannis and the other lords of Westeros following Sam's return did appear to be something of a game changer. Especially with regard to Stannis, Davos and Melisandre. Clearly, Stannis's focus will be shifting elsewhere.

I have to agree that the final scene was not something that I found interesting. But it does move forward Dany's story arc as a liberator. Still, I thought that a closing scene with Jon Snow and what's to come in his storyline might have made for a stronger closing scene to the season.